Image: Chanel News

At Chanel, no expense is ever spared and the Chanel Autumn/Winter 2010 Ready to Wear show was no exception. For starters, a 265-ton iceberg was imported from Sweden to the Grand Palais for the Chanel show. Sitting in a shallow pool of water and reaching 28 feet high, 35 ice sculptors took six days to carve the iceberg to form the perfect peaks and valleys. Needless to say, the room was kept chilly to keep the ice from melting and the tone was set for the show.

The show opened with what I would call polar bear costumes – full fur bodysuits. For PETA’s sake, all of the fur in the show was faux – and there was a lot of it! I have to say that I did not like these polar bear outfits at all. I think they look ridiculous and unless you are dressing up as a polar bear for Halloween, or are living on the Arctic Circle, I have no idea why or where you would wear these furry jumpsuits.

Thankfully, the collection did not just include fuzzy costumes. The highlight of the show – apparel wise – was the interpretation of tweed and knits to go along with the faux fur theme/cold weather theme. The tweeds had fur, lace, yarn and tulle – and some even had stone embellishments. The knits ranged from sweaters, dresses, and tights and looked cozy chic.

My favorite part of the collection was the accessories (no surprise there). Necklaces, cuffs, earrings and hair pieces dripped with metals, stones, yarn and faux ice. I especially loved the bracelet with metal and yarn fringe (pictured above). The boots looked like they had spats attached to them which I also loved. The fur boots – like the jumpsuits – I did not love, but I appreciated the cleverness of the “ice” heels. The highlight of the accessories were of course the handbags. From fur covered, to faux ice appliqued onto a bag with melting double CC’s the bags were exquisite. My favorite was a play on the famous Chanel quilted pattern that actually looked like ice cubes.

The hair was big, teased and a bit messy, perhaps evoking the static of hat head in the winter? I loved the eye makeup that was black and applied in a bit of a sporadic light, almost feather pattern. The rest of the face was kept pretty bare and nude, as well as the nails. As always, curious to see what the actual nail color will be – I’m sure it will cause a stir just like prior colors de jour.

View the rest of the collection on La Chanelphile.com.

Runway Images: Style
Image Layout: Feesh

Les Trompe-L'oeil de Chanel: Kate Lee Shares Her Tattoo Application Expertise in LA

On March 5, in Los Angeles, celebrity makeup artist Kate Lee is sharing her expertise in temporary tattoo application to celebrate the launch of Chanel’s Les Trompe-L’oeil (aka Chanel temporary tattoos!). Ms. Lee will be at the Chanel on Robertson Blvd from 4pm to 7 pm.

Source: La Chanelphile

La Chanelphile: Chanel Paris-Shanghai Accessories

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Chanel has Shanghai on the brain for 2010. First there was the Chanel Shanghai boutique opening, then there was the Chanel Métiers D’Art Pre-Fall 2010 Paris-Shanghai collection. We know Coco Chanel was infatuated with Shanghai and would have loved to have traveled there. But I wonder if that was the only inspiration for the Chanel Shanghai collection – could it be that it was timed to coincide with the upcoming World’s Fair Expo in Shanghai in May, 2010. Whatever the reason, the accessories are amazing!

After the success of the Chanel Paris-Moscou Matryoshka doll purse, Uncle Karl has created a similar purse for the Shanghai collection. The matching drop earrings are adorable – I wonder if he used these little ladies on any other accessories? Lagerfeld also reinterpreted the classic 2.55 bag with large sequined palletes in red and jade.

La Chanelphile: Chanel Paris-Shanghai Accessories

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My other favorite bag is Chanel’s rendition of the classic takeout box – with leather chain strap and all! The Chanel cuff is also especially beautiful and is reminiscent of Chinese pottery and vases.

This is just a little glimpse into the details of the collection and I can’t wait to see more!

Re-posted from La Chanelphile

Les Trompe-L'oeil de Chanel - Temporary Skin Art/Tattoos

I just received a package in the mail and was excited to see that it was my set of Les Trompe-L’oeil de Chanel, better known as the Chanel Temporary Skin Art/Tattoos. The tattoos made their debut a few months back at the Spring 2010 Chanel Ready To Wear presentation.

The set includes 5 sheets with a total of 55 designs. Each trompe-l’oeil references a classic Chanel motif – pearls, the double C’s, and chain links with woven leather. Traditional tattoo references also include sparrows and cherry blossoms.

Les Trompe-L'oeil de Chanel - Temporary Skin Art/Tattoos

I love this set, though I will confess, I bought Les Trompe-L’oeil de Chanel purely as a collector’s piece – I won’t be using any of these temporary tattoos. I like to keep my skin canvas blank, but if you don’t want to commit to a real tattoo, then what it doesn’t get better than a Chanel temporary tattoo.

I was on a waiting list to get Les Trompe-L’oeil de Chanel but it may not be too late to get yours. Try contact Ruby at the Chanel at the Encore in Las Vegas and tell her Gabriella sent you!

View the full set of Les Trompe-L’oeil de Chanel on LaChanelphile.com.

Chanel Set of 3 Enamel Brooches with Glass Pearls

Chanel launched a site with an array of “Lovely Chanel Gifts” just in time for Valentine’s Day. The site has a cute slot machine featuring all of the products that have a bit of a Valentine’s Day theme. Karl must have tattoos on the brain because not only did he release Chanel temporary tattoos, but one of the earrings are inspired by the classic heart tattoos. From heart charms on the quilted lambskin classic flap bags to enamel brooches and charms on chain necklaces, all of these gifts are a great way to profess one’s love (in fact, any Chanel gift is a great way to show some love). The products are available at Chanel boutiques and you’ve got about a week to start dropping hints.

View the rest of the collection on La Chanelphile.

Republished from La Chanelphile

Martin Scorsese Films Chanel Ad in Brooklyn at Moto

The rumors are apparently true.  The Dossier Journal reported today that they saw some lights, camera, action! at Moto in Brooklyn last night. Chanel has a tradition of pairing directors with their muses for ad campaigns;  Nicole Kidman and Baz Luhrmann (Moulin Rouge) worked together for Chanel No. 5, as did Jean-Pierre Jeunet (Amélie) with Audrey Tautou for the latest Chanel No. 5 ads.  I wonder if Martin Scorsese will be teamed up with some muses of the past… will it be Jodi Foster (Taxi Driver) or Sharon Stone (Casino)?  Only time will tell, but I cannot wait to see this ad!

Via Fashionologie

Chanel Spring 2010 Nail Colour

We all got a glimpse of the gorgeous new Chanel nail colours at the recent Spring 2010 RTW show in Paris. Now, images are surfacing on the net of the actual shades: Particulière, Tendresse & Inattendu. Chanel’s artistic director of makeup Peter Philips seems to have his finger on the pulse of what women want when it comes to nail colour. My favorite is Particulière – it’s that perfect mix of grey, brown and olive green that makes it the perfect neutral – or shall we say the new black? The new Chanel nail colours will hit stores in January and I can’t wait to get mine!

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*Republished from La Chanelphile

Anne Fontaine discusses the making of Coco Before Chanel with M.I.S.S. TV!

It’s no secret that M.I.S.S. co-founder GDK is a fan of the double C’s– in fact, she recently started a blog devoted to all things pioneer of the LBD, Chanel, called La Chanelphile. So, I can only imagine how excited/intrigued/petrified she must have been when she got the chance not too long ago to sit down with the director of Coco Before Chanel, Anne Fontaine. In this two-part interview, Gabriella discusses the making of the film with Anne, as well as what it was like to work with the Chanel Archives, Aurey Tautou and if Coco was a feminist.

Part One

Part Two

La Chanelphile

If you’ve been reading M.I.S.S. then it’s no surprise to you that I’m a bit obsessed with Chanel and love all things Chanel – I guess you could say I’m a “chanelphile.”  I’ve been wanting to devote a blog to Chanel and I’ve finally done it.  You can read about anything involving Chanel on La Chanelphile and you can follow “Coco” on twitter as well @MlleChanel.  Don’t be a stranger.  I hope you enjoy reading about Chanel as much as I enjoy researching and writing about Chanel.

xo GDK